Dick Justice … Read Full Bio ↴There are two artists who used the name Dick Justice.
Dick Justice (born Henry Franklin Justice april 3, 1903, died September 12,1962), was an influential blues and folk musician who hailed from West Virginia, United States. He recorded ten songs for Brunswick Records in Chicago in 1929. He was heavily influenced by black musicians, particularly Luke Jordan who recorded in 1927 and 1929 for Victor Records. Justice's "Cocaine" is a verse-for-verse cover of the Jordan track of the same name recorded two years earlier. The song "Brownskin Blues" is also stylistically akin the much of Jordan's work but stands on its own as a Justice original. As Jordan hailed from around Lynchburg, Virginia it is perhaps worth speculating that the two may have been associates. Justice is also musically related to Frank Hutchison (with whom he played music and worked as a coal miner in Logan County, West Virginia) and The Williamson Brothers. His recording of the traditional ballad 'Henry Lee' is the opening track of Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music. He also worked closely with Reese Jarvis(1899-1967) who played violin on "Muskrat Rag "and "Poca River Blues".
There was also an alternative rock band from Champaign-Urbana, Illinois named Dick Justice. They formed in late 1991, taking their name from one Richard Justice . . . the associate dean of students at the University of Illinois in charge of student discipline and mediation programs. Original members included Jim Kamp (guitar, vocals), Galen Gondolfi (drums, vocals) and Rob Arrol (bass, vocals). The band played thier first show on January 24, 1992 at a house party (with Bob Rising from Poster Children/Seam guesting on drums). dick justice made a name for themselves throughout the Midwest, through regular touring and playing with the likes of Pavement, Yo La Tengo, Elvis Hitler, Material Issue, Pansy Division, A Flock of Seagulls, Arcwelder, Busker Soundcheck, Tripmaster Monkey, Honcho Overload, The Moon Seven Times, Delta Kings, Walt Mink and one incredibly memorable night with Alcohol Funnycar. The original members released one 7-inch on Mud Records in December 1993. The Lasso Your Heart EP featured the songs "Nine Outta Ten" (also included on the CD comp. Mud Puddle Playoffs) and "Part of Your Problem." Arrol departed in May 1994. During this period he was also rhythm guitarist For Decatur, Illinois' and Medium Cool Recording Artists' Ticks. He reimerged in the fall of 1994 playing guitar and singing with a pop-punk power trio known as "mary me" with braid's Todd Bell on bass on Roy Ewing on drums. They recorded for John Yates' Allied Recordings. Gondolfi and Kamp recruited Chris Green to fill in before relocating to Chicago and asking Jeff Sorensen to assume full-time bass duties. Gondolfi eventually left the band with Paul Pagones taking over on drums. Gondolfi took a brake from drumming to travel and experience many parts of the United States. He came back into the spotlight in St. Louis' Push and currently drums with an outfit known as Airport Elementary. The Kamp, Sorensen, Pagones line-up of dick justice released two 7-inches: DICK JUSTICE ROCK on Evanston, Illinois' ten-spot record company, inc. and Superfancy Heavy Duty Everything on Chicago's Thick Records. Kamp later fronted seminal Chicago bands Team Player and Snaklab All-Tsars (w/Pagones on drums). He currently plays with his brother Paul (Busker Soundcheck) in Ruth Buzzy. On May 25, 2008, the original line-up of Rob Arrol, Galen Gondolfi and Jim Kamp reunited in Champaign, IL for a show at The High Dive. In front of a sell out crowd, dick justice (the band) was introduced by Dick Justice (the man). Others on the bill that night were Driver Has No Cash, Corndolly, The Moon Seven Times, Mother/Menthol and Honcho Overload.
Cocaine
Dick Justice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I ain’t gonna quit you, pretty mama, while the weather’s cool
Around your back door, honey, I’m gonna creep
Just as long as you bring me two-and-a-half a week
I’ve got a girl, she works in the white folks yard
She bring me meal, I swear she brings me lard
She brings me meal, honey she brings me lard
Lord a vaudeville circus rider came to town
They got a dancer lookin’ nice and brown
They didn’t know it was against the law
For the monkey’s to stop at a five cent store
Well, just around the corner, just a minute too late
Another one standin’ at the big back gate
I’m simply wild about my good cocaine
I stood my corner, hey hey!
Here come Sal with a nose all so’
Doctors said she couldn’t smell no mo’
Lord run doctor, ring the bell
The women in the alley…
I’m simply wild about my good cocaine
Furniture man came to my house, was last Sunday morn
Asked me was my wife at home
Said she’d long been gone
Backed his wagon up to my door
Took everything I had
He carried it back to the furniture store
Honey, I did feel sad
What in the world has any man got, now
Messin’ with the furniture man?
Got no dough, stand for sho’
Certainly will back you back
Take everything from an earthly plant
From a skillet to a frying pan
If there ever was a devil born without any horns
Musta been the furniture man
I hear you mama, hey hey!
Here come Sal with a nose all so’
Doctors said she couldn’t smell no mo’
Lord go doctor, ring the bell
Women in the alley…
I’m simply wild about my good cocaine
Lord the babies in the cradle in New Orleans
The doctors kept a-whiffin’ til the baby got mean
Doctor whiffed until the baby got so’
Mama said she couldn’t smell no mo’
Lord go, Doctor, ring the bell,
The women in the alley…
I simply wild about my good cocaine
I’m simply wild about my good cocaine
I’m simply wild about my good cocaine
The song "Cocaine" by Dick Justice is an early 20th-century blues song that features lyrics that offer a glimpse into the struggles and hardships of those who were addicted to cocaine in that era. The song describes the extent to which people would go to obtain cocaine and the devastating consequences of drug addiction. The first verse seems to refer to the addiction itself and how the singer will go to great lengths to keep getting their fix. The mention of the "two-and-a-half a week" is believed to refer to a measurement of cocaine, which shows the extent of the addiction. The second verse talks about a person who steals food and other things for the singer, highlighting how addiction leads to criminal activity to support the habit.
The third verse appears to be a cautionary tale of drug use, telling the story of a vaudeville rider who gets in trouble with the law for drug use. The fourth verse highlights the consequences of addiction, such as deteriorating health as is evident by the reference to Sal, the woman who has lost her sense of smell due to cocaine use. The final verse talks about how addiction can lead to people losing everything they own, as is highlighted by the furniture man taking everything the singer owns. Throughout the song, there is an acknowledgement that addiction is difficult to overcome, and that it can lead to a life of misery and isolation.
Line by Line Meaning
Go on gal, don’t take me for no fool
Don't underestimate me, woman
I ain’t gonna quit you, pretty mama, while the weather’s cool
I'm not going to leave you while it feels good
Around your back door, honey, I’m gonna creep
I will sneak around to be with you
Just as long as you bring me two-and-a-half a week
As long as you give me my cocaine supply
I’ve got a girl, she works in the white folks yard
I have a woman working for white people
She bring me meal, I swear she brings me lard
She brings me food and other stolen items
She brings me everything honey that a girl can steal
She steals things for me and brings them to me
Lord a vaudeville circus rider came to town
A performer came to town
They got a dancer lookin’ nice and brown
They have a beautiful dancer
They didn’t know it was against the law
They were unaware it was illegal
For the monkey’s to stop at a five cent store
For a monkey to enter a store charging only five cents
Well, just around the corner, just a minute too late
I missed the opportunity
Another one standin’ at the big back gate
Someone else is ready to supply cocaine
I’m simply wild about my good cocaine
I love my cocaine
I stood my corner, hey hey!
I stood my ground
Here come Sal with a nose all so’
Sal, who does drugs, is coming
Doctors said she couldn’t smell no mo’
Sal's sense of smell is gone
Lord run doctor, ring the bell
Go get the doctor
The women in the alley…
Women are nearby
I’m simply wild about my good cocaine
I have a strong desire for cocaine
Furniture man came to my house, was last Sunday morn
A furniture salesman visited me on a Sunday morning
Asked me was my wife at home
He asked if my wife was home
Said she’d long been gone
I informed him she left a while ago
Backed his wagon up to my door
He parked his wagon outside my house
Took everything I had
He took all of my possessions
He carried it back to the furniture store
He took my things back to the store
Honey, I did feel sad
I was very sad
What in the world has any man got, now
What could a man possibly have now?
Messin’ with the furniture man?
By confronting the furniture salesman?
Got no dough, stand for sho’
I have no money to spend
Certainly will back you back
It will definitely come back to you
Take everything from an earthly plant
Take everything that is materialistic
From a skillet to a frying pan
Anything valuable can be taken
If there ever was a devil born without any horns
The devil could be born without horns
Musta been the furniture man
It must have been the furniture salesman
Lord the babies in the cradle in New Orleans
The babies in New Orleans
The doctors kept a-whiffin’ til the baby got mean
The doctors kept administering drugs until the baby reacted aggressively
Doctor whiffed until the baby got so’
The doctor administered drugs until the baby became ill
Mama said she couldn’t smell no mo’
Mama couldn't smell anymore either
Lord go, Doctor, ring the bell,
Go get the Doctor
The women in the alley…
Women are nearby
I simply wild about my good cocaine
I have a strong desire for cocaine
Contributed by Olivia C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@thomasdupont7186
what a treasure this song Is, I've been listening to for more than 10 years now. And will continue to do it.
@TonySakich
Bryan Alvarez got me hip to this song over 10 years ago and I'm still listening to it!!
@Skynster37
Cocaine and Rhinestones podcast brought me here. It's a great podcast. All the Mommies and Tight Jeans out there...try it out
@andrewkling9530
Me too! I just finished the first episode and the closing buffer music sent me straight here.
@jwilli726
Joshua Jordan the mommies need to have Tyler on YMH!
@agornath1
I listened to the whole first season , David Allan Coe's son does the podcast.
@AnotherOrangeJulius
Same here.
@CalebShookMusic
Such an amazing podcast. I first listened to him on Your Favorite Band Sucks. I gave Cocaine and Rhinestones a chance and ive been addicted since.
@abztract1
This song can be applied to todays society.
2 morals of this 100yr old story are.......Drugs are bad and pay your shit!!
Love this song.
@hermanthegerman6309
My crack addiction brought me here